István Nagy: No new outbreak! The Veterinary Operational Group met

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István Nagy highlighted, however, that there is a new outbreak in Slovakia, therefore all rules that serve the control must be followed. He reminded that the necessary measures were taken from the beginning, the establishment of the veterinary operational group was necessary because they felt that they could be effective in the control process if they could involve all official bodies in this work. István Nagy said that a decision was made at the meeting of the operational staff that there will be police checks on the entry and exit of people on all farms affected by the virus, and that each farm will have a designated veterinarian. The former tightening is necessary because the farms cannot be left unattended, they need to be guarded accurately, precisely, and in a disciplined manner, and the latter is so that veterinarians do not have to travel between farms. He explained that a loan moratorium will come into effect, according to which the principal and interest repayments of all affected livestock keepers will be suspended for one year. This is important because investments and developments were taking place on all affected farms, and loans were used for these. The loan moratorium also serves the purpose of allowing all farms to restart, which is very important for the Hungarian national economy, the minister emphasized. He said that all animal-related exhibitions and events have been banned in Győr-Moson-Sopron County.

István Nagy said that the operational team confirmed that all human and material resources necessary for the defense are available

The minister also mentioned that Austria will keep only six of its 30 border crossings with Hungary open as of Saturday morning. Those interested can find out about the current situation of the border crossings on the police.hu website. Regarding the spread of the virus, the Minister of Agriculture said that the disease appeared on January 10 in a buffalo farm in Germany, and then on March 6 in a cattle farm in the Kisbajcs settlement in Hungary. Later, the virus was identified in Slovakia, which then appeared again in Hungary, including in Levél, Darnózseli and Dunakiliti. He added that after the first outbreaks in Slovakia, they were in close contact with the Slovak authorities, who asked Hungary for material assistance and information. Hungary provided assistance to its Slovak colleagues, since “our fate is common during this defense”.

The minister also said that the process of decontamination in Kisbajcs and Levél has been completed, and disinfection is now underway

In Darnózseli and Dunakiliti, the cattle on the farms were vaccinated to reduce the release of the virus in them. This was necessary because the decontamination of the 3,500 cattle affected on these two farms together takes longer. István Nagy reminded of the previously introduced protective measures, such as the fact that in Hungary, disinfection mats were placed at border crossings from Rajka to Esztergom, and disinfection points were set up at highway entrances from Hegyeshalom to Bőny. In this context, István Nagy thanked the Hungarian Armed Forces and the police for their cooperation. The minister also called it an important measure to ban the entry of animals susceptible to the virus into and through Győr-Moson-Sopron county. Animal transporters should avoid this county. The minister emphasized that this virus is extremely contagious and can cause great economic damage. “It is in our fundamental interest to be able to curb its spread,” he stated. István Nagy warned that it is extremely important that everyone strictly adheres to the rules prescribed by the authorities!

MTI